2007 - The Working Partnership: SMEs and Biodiversity

This report by the Probioprise project of Fauna and Flora International, EFMD, and the European Bureau for Conservation and Development identifies small and medium sized "pro-biodiversity" enterprises that conserve biodiversity because their core activities depend on it.

Fauna & Flora International, EFMD, European Bureau for Conservation and Development

Date

2007

Abstract

Many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe base their businesses on biodiversity and contribute to its conservation. They do so in varied, often innovative ways in a range of different circumstances. This report addresses two challenges. The first is to understand these ‘pro-biodiversity enterprises’ (PBEs). What is the nature of the contribution made by PBEs to biodiversity conservation and why are they making this contribution? The focus of the report is on answering these questions at the level of the individual enterprise. The second challenge is the larger one of determining what can be done to promote the role of SMEs in achieving the EU’s 2010 biodiversity target and the more specific goals within it. The report’s contribution to the second challenge takes the form of a policy-oriented research programme that builds on the understanding of individual enterprise and sets out the questions that need to be answered before policy choices are made.